The Washington critic., 1887-02-02

theatres, although II was some years
before such an Institution was built In
Washington City after 1t became the
National Capital. The father OF mis-
country, the statesmen In Congress, the
Cabinet and their families regularly
patronized the new theatre on Chestnut
street in Philadelphia, which was the
capital then. Among the actors and
actresses of the day who played on
these boards were Whitlock, lIarwood,
who married niece of Franklin, Mrs.
Morris and Mrs. Marshall. Mrs. Whit.
lock was sister of the famous Siddons.
In those days theatres opened at five
o'clock and the curtain rose at six.
Families sent their servants to keep
their places, but the most favored foot.
man had to withdraw from the build
Ing as soon as the performance began.
John Adams seldom missed an oppor-
tunity to see play, and Jeiferson's res
idence in France, his musical tastes, his
fondness for polite literature, all made
him like the stage. Madison, Monroe
and John Quincy Adams were fond OF
the drama, and the latter once had a
lengthy discussion with James III.
lIackett on the character of Uamld
Even the iron President frequently
went TO the play and Van Buren,
of course, followed Jackson's example.
So of John Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Pierce
and buchanan. Andrew johnson
liked to talk with actors, and
Abe Lincoln met his death in n
theatre. Grant seldom went to pub.
lie resorts, but Garfield was often a
spectator of Barrett and the ill.fated
Mccullough. Chester Arthur was too
thorough man of the world to deny
his presence at the opera, and was al
ways accompanied by an elegantly
attired coterie of ladies and gentlemen.
But none of these notables had so
handsome wife as Cleveland, and 1t
is not TO be wondered at that he is not
averse TO accompanying her to places
where her beauty is certain to make
her the centre of attraction and reflect
upon him silent congratulations upon
his luck In the matrimonial market.
~.
Says Fred. Mussey in the Ctncln-
natl Commercial Gdzoito. Mr.. Secre-
tary Bayard has been having great
heap of photographs taken. The
Washington photographer who took
them says he was the worst subject he
ever had. lie fixed himself in rigid
position, and put set smile on his
face and refused to change or be
changed. The artist gave up in de.
spair after several sharp reminders
from the Secretary of State that he
Che Secretary probably knew his own
business and took nine different
instantaneous shots at him In nine diff.
| ferent changes of the chair. The pic.
lures proved TO be good ones, and he
| picked out six to order from. lie
ordered thirty.six dozen copies OF
one that pleased him particularly, be
cause 1t had n very stern and Roman
look, as he remarked II.
~.
The Maysville, KY, Republican re-
ports the death OF Benedict Kirk, who
settled In that vicinity with his par.
ents seventy. five years ago. Kirk fol
some years led an eventful life on the
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, in the
days when all the travel was by steam
boat and weeks were required to make
a trip from Maysville to New Orlean;
and return. lie narrowly missed be
ing present at Vicksburg on July 8
1885, when the infuriated citizens oi
that place gave notice to all gamblers
TO vacate the city, and when five who
had the temerity to remain were
hanged. The pioneers Of Mississippi
and Arkansas must have been con
tirmed gamblers, judging from the
stories told of MIR. Kinks carly life
He called Sergeant S. Prentiss, tht
famous Southern lawyer, the heavles
better he ever saw. Kirk spent win
ter at jackson, Miss, and at hi
game Prentiss lost $4,000 in the frs
three evenings. He ended the winter {
loser by $4,000. Mr.. Kirk was {
lover of racing, as were most Ken
tuckians OF his day, and participated IL
the arrangements for race in Louis
vile in 1888 between Sir Archy, owned
by Marshall Key of Washington
Rudolph, owned by the Burbridges oi
Scott County, and Angora, owned IL
Natchez, Miss. President Andrew
Jackson was at Louisville during til,
preliminaries, but did not remain TO
The race. His opinion however, inilu
enced the betting, for there were man,
men with implicit faith in jackson
opinion Of horse flesh who had less re
gard for his views of banks or the tariff